PIB Headquarters
SPEECH OF HON’BLE VICE PRESIDENT, SHRI M VENKAIAH NAIDU AT INAUGURATION OF MGM HEALTHCARE
I am delighted to be here this morning to participate in the inauguration of this hospital.
Mahatma Gandhi once said, "It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver." This profound statement is applicable not only to individuals but to the society and nation at large. A similar saying in Telugu says “Aarogyame Mahaabhagyam”.
Dear sisters & brothers,
As we all are aware, India has achieved significant progress since Independence on various health indicators. With successive governments according high priority to health and the wellbeing of the people, the average life expectancy has increased to 69 years and many infectious diseases have also been successfully eliminated.
Although, the health outcomes have vastly improved with the availability of modern methods of treatment and better healthcare facilities, the country is still facing many formidable challenges on this front. They include inadequate public spend, low doctor-patient ratio, high share of out-of-pocket expenditure, inadequate infrastructure in rural areas, lack of penetration of health insurance and inadequate preventive mechanisms.
Despite the improved reach of healthcare delivery, the rural areas are lagging behind their urban counterparts and there is a huge disparity in the healthcare services provided between urban and rural areas. This glaring gap between the urban and rural areas has to end and it is time for the private sector to expand its footprint to the villages and remote rural areas.
The private sector needs to complement the efforts of the government in reaching modern healthcare facilities to the rural areas.
A major area of concern is shortage of qualified doctors and trained para-medical personnel in the country. It has been estimated that India wa facing a shortage of 600,000 doctors and two million nurses. In addition to this shortage, the smaller towns and rural areas lack adequate facilities. We cannot allow this situation to continue and both the private and the public sector need to join hands to provide quality healthcare at affordable costs.
I feel that Public Private Partnership could be the model to bridge the gap in providing technically advanced primary and secondary healthcare centres.
Making available advanced treatment at affordable cost to all sections is another aspect that needs the attention of all the stakeholders in the health sector. It should be a matter of concern that each year several people are getting pushed into the vicious cycle of debts due to out-of-pocket expenses and high treatment costs.
With non-communicable diseases like cancer, diabetes and heart attacks accounting for huge spending by households, this problem can be surmounted to a large extent by ensuring Universal Health Coverage where every individual gets quality treatment without facing any financial hardship. This is also essential to achieve Sustainable Development Goals.
I am glad that the Union Government has launched Aayushman Bharath to provide comprehensive insurance coverage to 10 crore poor and vulnerable families. It also seeks to establish 150,000 health and wellness centres throughout India.
Dear sisters and brothers, India's need for healthcare has never been more acute. Although, we have made great strides as a nation in reducing infant and maternal mortality rates over the last five decades and in controlling the spread of diseases like HIV and TB, there is need to make concerted action to stop the growing incidence of non-communicable diseases.
According WHO data released in 2017, about 61 per cent of deaths in India are attributed to non-communicable diseases, including heart disorders, cancer and diabetes.
I feel that there is a need to establish NCD clinics in both urban and rural areas and the private sector must play a prominent role in setting up such clinics. I would also like call upon the doctors in both public and private sectors to visit the nearest schools in their localities and conduct awareness campaigns on the need to maintain healthy lifestyle.
As a matter-of-fact, a national movement against the growing incidence of non-communicable diseases needs to be launched. The Indian Medical Association must take the lead to promote awareness among the people, particularly school and college students, on the health hazards caused by sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy dietary habits.
Dear sisters and brothers, we face the challenge of providing healthcare to 1.35 billion-strong population—one-sixth of humanity. To meet this huge challenge, we need more medical colleges, hospitals and health infrastructure that delivers affordable diagnostic and treatment services to the people.
I am happy to note that almost all of the South Indian states have improved considerably in the NITI Aayog’s “Healthy States, Progressive India” health index 2019 report.
I am aware that hospitals are increasingly investing in the latest technology to enhance the reliability of the diagnosis, improve treatment as well as the outcomes.
Medical tourism in India is successful essentially because of the exceptional quality of doctors and cost effectiveness when compared to developed countries.
I am told that Chennai attracts a good number of international health tourists, proving that medical tourism is a fast-rising sector in India today. Patients from countries like Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Iraq, Afghanistan, Oman, Yemen, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh and Maldives are travelling to Chennai and other cities in India for surgeries and treatment in multi and super-specialty hospitals.
Here is where private sector hospitals like MGM Healthcare have a role to play. When I was informed that this new hospital is a product of the MGM Group, that is already well-known for its excellent medical and educational institutions, I was more than glad to be a part of their new journey.
On that note, I congratulate Thiru M K Rajagopalan, Dr Prashanth Rajagopalan and the management and staff of MGM Healthcare Pvt Ltd on this new beginning and I sincerely urge you to uphold Article 21 of the Constitution of India, and provide equal and affordable care to all those who step into your hospital.